Setting up timezones, should I use GMT/UTC?
 

I'm installing slackware, but that's not important. I'm at the timezone stage and not sure what to do for my timezone, GMT-4? UTC-5? EST5EDT? What is the most reliable method that will be easiest to work with when using npt and the like?

The timezone for the system clock or the hardware clock?

System clock should always be set correctly to the timezone you're located in. The hardware clock is the debatable one as to if it should be set locally or UTC. The UNIX default is to have it set to UTC, so linux copies that by default.

Well I'm wanting to set the system clock, which will then control the hardware clock, and there are 4 ways to represent my timezone (Eastern US) with the system I'm installing: posix/Etc/GMT-4, right/Etc/GMT-4, posix/US/Eastern, and right/US/Eastern and I dunno which to use.

Just use 'US/Eastern', it's near the top of the list that timeconfig presents you with.

Sounds good, but is there a benefit or advantage to just using Us/Eastern over GMT-4? Also, what exactly does posix/Etc/GMT-4 signify (it's obvious what GMT-4 is, but what is the posix/Etc?)

If you use GMT-4 then it won't adjust for your region's daylight savings when it happens. I've no idea what the other more long-winded options are, but if I were to guess I'd say they're probably just synonyms to comply with various 'standards'.

Perfect, thanks a lot! I'll have to switch it to US/Eastern then, I just used GMT-4 to complete installation, but I can change it anytime. Now my only issue is getting ntp to set the time right.